The Descent to Water: Revitalization of the Ashapura Mata Stepwell in India

Abstract

This thesis explores the restoration of a historical water architectural typology indigenous to the Indian subcontinent in its pre-colonial past. Stepwells or Vavs are ancient subterranean structures designed with complex engineering and utmost precision to harvest groundwater. As the name suggests, Stepwells or stepped wells are a series of steps that lead down to a water well. They were vital in providing a water source and acted as a communal gathering space. Stepwells prevailed for centuries and were shut down during colonial rule as the British considered the water in the wells unsanitary and introduced new water harvesting techniques. The wells, once vital for the communities, are deteriorating to a state of disrepair and are now used as dumping grounds. Considering how the stepwells have played a crucial role in shaping the water architecture typology in India, it becomes essential to revive these wells so that their historical and cultural values are preserved for generations to come. On a parallel tangent, with the growing population and rapid urbanization in India, there has been a significant drop in water tables leading to groundwater depletion. This water crisis issue calls for conservation and effective groundwater management. While the stepwells provided an infrastructure for harvesting groundwater in the past, restoring them would help with groundwater recharge and contribute to reviving the lost heritage. Along with the restoration of the stepwell as an artifact, this thesis project proposes small-scale, architectural interventions to help with creating a resilient and self-sustaining community around the stepwell and working with and improving both public space and water infrastructure. The revitalization of the Ashapura Mata Stepwell and its surrounding neighbourhood proposes to act as an urban catalyst model for providing restoration strategies for other stepwells in the country.